I've got a bunch of retired computers (mostly P4's >2.6ghz s478 era) and parts which are going to waste in a shed

Was considering just dumping the lot, but figure there is plenty of parts that can be ripped off boards and reused for projects (e.g. arduino projects). I think I will try and give away most of it first but anything left over, trying to think of what I can do to make the parts usable and space-saving.

Wondering what everyone has done in terms of recycling pc electronics and various parts (or which you focus on putting away for later)?

Cases: the best I can think to do with them is get out a plasma cutter and cut the metal down to small flat pieces that can be stacked and stored for various uses

Motherboards:
- Headers, heatsinks, fans, jumpers, buzzers, cables, battery/mount: I can always use.
- On-board connectors: I could see uses for (ps2, serial, audio, ide, vga, usb, etc)
- Surface mounted electronics: I doubt I can get off cleanly (or re-use without wrecking) but larger electrical components I can see purpose for storing (for those days when I go for a specific trip for a specific bit).
- Multilayer PCBs: I can't think of a use except as mounting boards.

I have a lot of stuff that I want to get rid of. CPUs, m/boards, RAM, HDDs, cables, cases and so on. You could probably build a reasonable PC out of the parts and I have thought about doing that and putting it on eBay. Then I see it's only worth $100-150 and just can't be bothered with the hassle.

I usually just get some semblance of a pc running with what I have left and hand it off to a mate. however that only really works if the majority of your mates are computer illiterate spaz's who've only just figured out they can watch porn and facebook till the cows come home.

I looked into it ages ago, there's specific places which you can drop them off and they'll donate them to various 3rd world or recycling efforts (there's tiny bits of non-renewable gold and rare metals which go into making computers, but I doubt that it's economical for individuals to try to get any money back for them).

That being said I never got around to it due to not having a car. Your best bet it seems is to wait for the brisbane river to swallow your house, then the army will take away all your ruined muddy crap including old computers.

Brisbane residents can, as part of the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme, dispose of e-waste at the transfer stations for free. The transfer stations will accept a maximum of 15 items per delivery of televisions, computers and computer products including printers and scanners free of charge from householders and small businesses.

I hate throwing out old working stuff, but it's basically more effort than it's worth to sell some of it, and if there's a broken component or it needs work I feel like it's almost cruel to donate it.

I don't think im going to even bother trying to donate this stuff. I thought I was doing the right thing by offering, and got made feel like an a******.

Hello,
Looks like they have been picked over.
Suggest you dump them, but not with us as we are not a dumping ground.
Thank you,
Computerbank Qld.
*****************
From: kittycat4@optusnet.com.au

I thought I was helping by offering, because their site says:

COMPUTERBANK QLD.

We refurbish donated computers to help as many people as possible, including pensioners, disabled people and children, experience the way of the future. Our clients can surf the Internet, send emails to friends, play games, do social networking, word processing, sound and graphics becoming part of the on-line way of life. When you upgrade your system don't toss out the old one, please consider donating it to us as we can use it, or its parts, to build other computers.